McAuley Wins SaskParty Nomination In Cumberland
Monday, May 05, 2008 at 14:19
The Saskatchewan Party will be represented by former Cumberland House mayor Dale McAuley in an upcoming by-election in the Cumberland riding.
In nomination meetings held over the weekend, McAuley beat out three others interested in the SaskParty nomination — including La Ronge mayor Joe Hordyski.
McAuley won on the third ballot of a preferential ballot voted on by delegates at meetings in Cumberland House, Creighton and La Ronge.
He was in the top three selections of 140 voting delegates, while Hordyski was among the top three choices of 130 delegates.
The Saskatchewan Party calls McAuley “a man with deep roots in the region” and “a tireless advocate for the north”.
McAuley feels his party has a strong chance to end the NDP’s historical dominance in the northern riding — mainly because the SaskParty is in power.
SaskParty constituency association president Don Tupper admits not everyone liked the use of the preferential ballot — but he’s confident it was democratic.
Tupper credits the nomination process for boosting the SaskParty membership in the riding from 43 people to 841.
He notes 175 people took in the La Ronge nomination meeting, while 125 showed up at Cumberland House and another 25 in Creighton.
The NDP will be choosing its candidate in nomination meetings across the riding this week, beginning today in Cumberland House.
The seat has been vacant since former NDP MLA Joan Beatty resigned to take a run at federal politics.
A by-election has yet to be called.